A Restoration of Love

Ethalia Mortensen spends her morning doing nothing, as often she does. Some people would call this lazy, but Ethalia calls it necessary. Spending an entire night healing the worst of what came to the monastery, those who needed attention so severely that they couldn't wait minutes, not to mention hours for those who had a more customary schedule, would physically tire anyone. For Ethalia, though, each person she healed was both an agony to her and a relief. This, however, isn't what her mind drifts to this morning. Her mind drifts back to the week before, when one of her morning "nothing" sessions became very much a something...

_________________"Don’t do what you can’t undo, until you’ve considered what you can’t do once you’ve done it.”

One of the two guards that patrols the monastery for "suspicious" activity knocks softly on the door. "Lady Ethalia, I apologize for disturbing you during your meditation, but a very peculiar woman was seen looking in your window.""Really? Is she injured?""My lady, I don't think it's safe-""Nonsense, Ranulf." Ethalia admonishes him as she gets up off the bed. "Take me to her this instant."

Outside, Ethalia finds the other guard, Jason, holding a cloaked and hooded woman rather roughly. "Let go of me before I snap your arm," the woman suggests. Unfortunately, Jason just frowns at her. "Have it your way then."There's a sickening snapping sound as she twists out his grip and drives a knee into his back.

"Might wanna heal your boyfriend," the woman suggests as she turns to go. Ethalia's already kneeling down, the glow of her holy healing magic surrounding her hands. That done in less than a minute, she rises, walks over to the other woman, and jerks her hood down.

She thought that she'd recognized the voice. Her throat feels tight as she stares at the woman.

Spoiler:

"V...Val?"

_________________"Don’t do what you can’t undo, until you’ve considered what you can’t do once you’ve done it.”

A short time later, Ethalia and Valiana are sitting in a small dining room. "Val, are you hungry?" Ethalia asks, as much to break the silence as anything. "Yeah. Got any steak?""I believe so.""Make it rare.""Are you certain that's how you want your food?""Yeah.""Al...alright then."

After a short dinner, in which Val seems to enjoy the steak a fair bit more than she ought to, Ethalia rises. "We need to talk, Val.""...somewhere we won't be overheard. Please..."

Back in Ethalia's room... "What happened?""I...I...I..." She swallows. "I'm a vampire..." Val finally manages to whisper. "...I killed Isabelle... after I got turned... it hurt so much... I went to find her... And I... attacked her. I don't know how I knew how... but... I think I ate her... She's...dead...dead...all my fault..." she keeps whispering, choking up more and more as she speaks, finally resting her face in her hands and flat out bawling.

Ethalia doesn't speak for a moment, simply getting up and sitting down on the bed next to her sister and petting her short hair gently. She whispers reassurances, all the while thinking, This is how she used to comfort me when I hurt myself as a child... gods... please help her...

_________________"Don’t do what you can’t undo, until you’ve considered what you can’t do once you’ve done it.”